Pua's statement does not represent DAP - Sheikh Umar

JOHOR BAHRU - Johor DAP vice chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali believes that the statement issued by former DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua does not represent the party.

DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) members on the other hand perceived the statement issued by Tony Pua was in his own capacity since the former Damansara Member of Parliament does not hold any position in DAP.

"Tony Pua currently does not hold any position in DAP. Therefore, I think he is speaking in his own capacity and not representing the party.

"Any provocative statement must be avoided. Don't shoot ourselves in the foot when we are just about be stable and stand up to face the challenges the country is currently facing," he said when contacted on Saturday.

The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board chairman shared that essentially, DAP had decided to cooperate with other political coalitions in order to achieve political stability.

"It was after the GE15 result which saw no party or political coalition getting a simple majority to form the central government.

"Then, to uphold the order of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong so that a Unity Government is formed," he said.

Therefore, he figured that the strength of all parties in the Unity Government must be focused on creating political stability and economic recovery.

The media previously reported that Tony, when speaking at a DAP fundraising dinner at Petaling Jaya City Hall compound, suddenly called Barisan Nasional (BN), which is now with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Unity Government, a 'corrupt ally'.

Tony in the same speech also voiced a hope that PH would be able to form its own government among the coalition components without involving Umno and BN if the coalition won in the next general election.

For that reason, he said that PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was appointed as Prime Minister needed to prove something to the multi-racial people in this country that PH administration is far better and not corrupt like BN.